A Private Evening at a Sacred Mountain Temple in Southern Kyoto: Craft Prayer Beads and Meditate After Dark

A Sacred Mountain Sanctuary at 288 Meters Above Sea Level

Kasagidera Temple stands deep within the mountains at the southern edge of Kyoto. Because the temple is difficult to reach independently after dark, this experience includes a private transfer from Kizu Station, which is about one hour by train from central Kyoto or Osaka. Vice Head Priest Keiga Kobayashi accompanies guests on the approximately 30-minute drive into the mountains.

Mt. Kasagi is formed of granite and dotted with massive megaliths, with dense forests of maple and oak covering the mountain. Founded in ancient times, Kasagidera Temple has been revered for over 1,300 years as the "Temple of Stones" and a sacred sanctuary of the Miroku Buddha.

You will arrive at the temple as dusk settles over the mountain. Because the gates are closed for your private visit, no other visitors are present, leaving only the tranquil sounds of birds and insects echoing from the surrounding woods. As Vice Head Priest Kobayashi introduces the temple's history, you will pass through the temple gate and enter its quiet grounds. An English interpreter accompanies the experience, while the priest personally guides you from beginning to end.

*During the public autumn foliage illumination period (November 15 – December 15), the grounds welcome more visitors than usual, offering a lively seasonal atmosphere.

Craft Your Own Prayer Beads and Experience a Purification Ritual

Your retreat begins at the main temple quarters, where you will select your favorite stones and beads to craft a unique set of personal prayer beads (nenju). Surrounded by lush greenery and the calm atmosphere of the temple, you can take your time choosing the materials and creating your own design.

Once your prayer beads are complete, you will proceed to the Bishamondo Hall. Soft lights illuminate the hall where the hidden statue of Bishamonten is enshrined, creating a solemn and sacred ambiance. As part of this exclusive experience, you will have special access to view the normally hidden statue. As you pray with the handmade prayer beads resting over your left hand and listen to the vice head priest recite sutras, the world of Buddhist practice feels remarkably close.

Next, the priest performs a purification ritual (Yakubarai) by waving an onusa (a sacred wand with paper streamers). In the dimly lit hall, the ritual purifies body and mind and prepares you for meditation.

Nighttime Meditation Guided by the Vice Head Priest

Following the purification ritual, Vice Head Priest Kobayashi steps down from the altar to speak with you at eye level. "The key to meditation is clearing your mind," he explains softly. "Let go of distractions and turn your attention inward." You can sit cross-legged (anza) or on your knees (seiza); chairs are also provided if sitting on the floor is uncomfortable. As you straighten your back, gently close your eyes, and focus on your breathing, a sense of connection with the surrounding nature gradually emerges, bringing a deep sense of calm.

Dating back to the 7th century, Kasagidera Temple features historic training trails winding between giant boulders, long used by Shugendo monks for spiritual practice. Today, the grounds retain paths leading past cliff-carved Buddhas like the main deity Miroku Nyorai, caves symbolizing a mother's womb, and unusual rocks that produce drum-like sounds. Meditating in the same mountain where ascetics once practiced offers a rare sense of connection with the centuries of religious tradition that remain rooted here.

In the Darkness, the Lost Miroku Buddha Reappears in Light

Stepping out of the Bishamondo Hall after meditation, you will find the grounds enveloped in pitch-black night. Guided by the vice head priest along illuminated pathways, walk carefully toward the main hall. Towering before the hall is the massive rock face where Miroku Nyorai was once carved. Although the body of the statue was lost to fires of the medieval conflict, the halo remains carved into the stone. Here, the vice head priest begins a sermon on Buddhist teachings, explaining how Miroku Nyorai is believed to descend to earth in the future to save humanity.

Behind him, cutting-edge projection mapping creates glowing lines of light that trace the lost form of the Miroku Buddha across the stone. With one hand raised and the other lowered, the Buddha gazes gently toward you. As the light intensifies, the Buddha figure gains three-dimensional depth, surrounded by a radiant halo. The shifting, shimmering image makes it seem as though Miroku himself has descended onto the mountain.

The atmosphere changes completely, and the temple grounds take on an almost otherworldly presence. After the sermon, you will have time to take photographs with the projection.

Receive a Sacred Temple Stamp and Reflect on the Teachings of Miroku

After admiring the illuminated Miroku Buddha projection to your heart's content, you will return to the main temple quarters. Your retreat concludes as Vice Head Priest Kobayashi presents you with a sacred goshuin (temple stamp) as a keepsake of your visit. The priest then drives you back to Kizu Station, making the return journey simple even after dark.

*The "Miroku Butsu" goshuin shown in photos can be purchased on-site (cash only).
*Guests who own a goshuin stamp book (goshuincho) are encouraged to bring it along.

Miroku Nyorai is believed to remain in Tushita Heaven, where the Buddha awaits the time when he will descend to the human world and revive Buddhist teachings. Standing before the Miroku image at Kasagidera Temple, you encounter a tradition shaped by this belief in the distant future. An evening spent at this secluded mountain temple, in the company of a Buddhist priest, offers a rare opportunity to reflect on the relationship between the present and the future.